Okay, so you have a list of artists that you like. And some of them…well, they’re not exactly well known. Some are extremely underrated, in your opinion, and not well known yet. Maybe they’re local, maybe they just haven’t had as much wide spread recognition as most others, maybe they prefer to stay fairly unknown…
…but for whatever reason, you seem to be one of the only people who like or even know of this singer/band. So you decide to be a nice person and you start on a list for your friends. You want all of your friends to know what they’re missing out on and introduce them to these really great bands/singers with their really great tunes…and a funny way to do that is to make a list. Let’s say you decide to make a TOP TEN BANDS/SINGERS YOU’RE NOT CURRENTLY LISTENING TO OR KNOW ABOUT, which would be made by you based on thinking that most people don’t yet know about the artists you are going to put on it. Sure, some might; but the majority? You’d bet not. You’d bet MOST of these artists are still fairly unknown despite their great musical talent.
So…who would you rank as the NUMBER ONE singer or band that, you’re guessing, most people are not (yet) listening to, based on your observations/experience/etc? Remember, this is solely your opinion.
It’s sort of punk rock. Sort of. That album also makes more sense in the context of the Bush presidency. They have tonsof other good stuff too if you diglo fipoppy punk. Catchy, no?
Other nominations for music that people on the SDMB aren’t listening to probably don’t qualify because those bands/artists are pretty darn popular in other arenas. Janelle Monae, , Kendrick Lamar. Huge stars that seem to be totally absent from the SDMB, so…
Blind Guardian is my usual response. If you’re into the power metal genre, your response is “Of course I know them!” but it’s not exactly a genre with mass appeal, especially in the US.
Joe Satriani is another example: he practically defines instrumental rock and taught half the other people in it, but you won’t hear him on the radio.
If I could just get one other person to appreciate the amazing work of the Russian experimental sound project Lunar Abyss Quartet (and their later incarnation Lunar Abyss Deus Organum), then I feel I will have done a service.
Interesting, when was this and when did they catch on? I’m just wondering because I used to hear one of their songs on the radio. This must have been close to a decade ago because I remember picking my son up from elementary school and him singing the song in the car. He’s much older now and I havent heard them since. Maybe it’s a thing like I heard them on alternative radio and they crossed over the dance adult top 40 or something so I’m just insulated. or maybe their live shows took them to new heights?
I started seeing them live when their second album “Multi Kontra Culti vs Irony” came out. That was around 03. It seems that by 2010 or so everyone pretty well knew who they were, or at least knew "start wearing Purple". Its possible that my sample is skewed though. So… Almost a decade ago, yup. I’m now feeling quite old.
Well, this is actually difficult for me to answer as I’m just not exposed to a lot of music that isn’t popular.
But, I guess Imelda May might qualify. I like several of her songs. I predicted she was going to take off here in the states, but that doesn’t seem to be happening.
Yea, I know they have a cult following, particularly in Europe. But still, 99.9% of people have never heard of them, yet they’ve been around since the early 1970s and have produced dozens of incredible albums.
Their music IMHO is highly underrated. Especially the older stuff. I’ve probably listened to Not Available 500 times, and each time I hear something different.
Well, I was thinking “damn, this band is great, I wonder where I could post about them without starting a blatant promotion thread” about each of these recently. So, thanks for the opportunity!
The Cush - Highway Brain. A Fort Worth band, great hardcore psych layering, going into a kind of shoegaze territory. IIRC, they’re touring Europe right now. Keep an eye out for them.
Jack Oblivian and the Sheiks - Hey Killer. Jack Oblivian has been around for awhile. He’s completely legendary in the right crowds, but probably doesn’t make a blip on the larger culture. That whole record is great, it exists somewhere between the best garage rock record and a Jazz Butcher record.
And, well, the Jazz Butcher was a great '80’s…um…well, Jazz Butcher? Crooning, great playing, smart humor. I dunno how to really explain it. Try some for yourself: Southern Mark Smith and The Devil Is My Friend.
To completely cheat, and give you 40% of the top ten, there’s also Bummers Eve - Butterface. Completely caveman fuzz/phaser rock.
Richard Thompson - I know lots of folks on the boards here are familiar with him, but in “real life” when I mention him most people have no idea who I’m talking about. “John-Boy?” is the response I get most often.
Old 97s is a band I’ve been following for a number of years now, that most people have not heard of. Usually when I mention them and get a blank stare, my first question is “Did you ever see the movie ‘The Breakup’ with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughan?” Because they were featured in a concert scene in that movie. But most people haven’t seen it, and I can’t really recommend it because it pretty much sucked otherwise. But they are a fun band to go see live and since they tour a lot I usually get to see them at least once a year.
When my worn out copy of Not Available refused to play recently, I got a new copy from Amazon…and they’ve added a few minutes more music to it! My vynal copy is also 30 years worn so I cannot compare it exactly to that, but I am pretty sure the latest version differs slightly from both the CD and the LP. A remarkable work from an extraordinary band.
I am hoping to see the *Theory of Obscurity * movie soon.
Richard Thompson is one of the best guitar players alive. Everyone should check him out.
I will go with Tommy Guerrero. His take on Latin/Urban instrumentals continues to captivate. Like if Sade met Steely Dan but no one sang. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5sDWBdeqO4
Well, my only caveat about the Old 97’s is that I figure everyone’s listening to them. They’re great, and I’ve heard Longer Than You’ve Been Alive on the radio, for example. But, that might be a function of where I live.
I second this! Modern day pub troubadour, middle of the road (mostly) musically but entertaining and fun and challenging at the same time.
I’m going to cheat and give you my top artists in arbitrary categories.
Unabashed recommendations - I own multiple albums and listen to all of them a lot
[ul]
[li]Matt Pond (used to be Matt Pond PA) - started out as sort of chamber pop, but has elements of rock and folk and even some more slick production in later albums. Sample songs - “Montreal”, “Last Light”[/li][li]Mike Doughty - formerly of Soul Coughing, another great storyteller, always interesting wordplay and rhythm underlying his music “I Hear the Bells”, “Busting Up a Starbucks”[/li][/ul]
Qualified recommendations - I own only one album or a few songs but listen to it regularly
[ul]
[li]Ivy - very catchy indie pop music. Always listenable. “Blame It On Yourself”[/li][li]Ha Ha Tonka - exceptional straight forward roots rock. “Usual Suspects”[/li][li]Jeremy Messersmith - another singer songwriter, with a touch of the off-kilter (even macabre). “It’s Only Dancing”, “Tourniquet”, and the video for “Twin Suns of Tatooine”[/li][/ul]
Specialty / other - Not for everyone, but might be a treasure for some
[ul]
[li]Nicolay - electronica, R&B, chill, whatever you call it. Love City Light v2- Shibuya[/li][li]DJ Earworm - Does incredible mash-ups. “No One Takes Your Freedom” is like nothing I had heard up to that point.[/li][li]Justin Roberts - children’s music. Really a singer-songwriter for kids. Unfailingly well written, catchy pop that will not drive parents crazy. My son is well past this age now (he’s 12), but if Justin comes up on shuffle I never skip ahead. As a measure of his songwriting, I might rank “Mama Is Sad” as the saddest song I have ever heard - if you don’t cry your heart is made of stone! [/li][li]Tune-Yards - I don’t know how to classify her. Listen to “Bizness” or “Killa” and decide for yourself.[/li][li]Otis Taylor - contemporary blues. The man cooks on the banjo. “Be My Frankenstein” is like a demonic steam locomotive careening wildly down the tracks[/li][/ul]
I am. Also known for his earlier hardcore band, Million Dead. A contemporary (the singers have played together) is also the Gaslight Anthem - not unpopular, but it’s still weird meeting someone who has heard of them.